S-Connection, Gainesville

S-Connection facilitates cross-cultural experiences through learning and performance—both on and off the ground. Its programs all have a Brazilian bent, with dance workshops for those who want to learn the samba, or fuse South American steps with the rhythms of Jamaican reggae. Instructors also teach circus arts, training students how to twist and tumble on aerial silks, the trapeze, and the lyra. They even organize trips to Rio de Janeiro and Bahia. Each retreat includes lessons on a topic of the traveler's choice—surfing, music, dance, or Portuguese—in addition to activities such as scuba diving and festival visits.